These photos are from a 5-day ski mountaineering trip with Eric Parsons on the
Finch and Eagle glaciers in the Western Chugach / Chugach State Park. We climbed 5 peaks and had perfect weather, shin deep powder, bomb stability and excellent climbing conditions. A wonderful trip! ( Read more... )

A spectacular
peak from all directions, Rook Mountain lies North and 2000' above Raven
Glacier. There is no easy route to the summit which makes it a worthy objective
that you must plan for in terms of weather, conditions and route.
It's a mountain I've been staring at for 10+ years waiting for the right
combination of good snow conditions and solid partners and I've spent many a
day walking or skiing past, looking up and waiting. ( Read more... )

With good reports filtering in from all over our objective in mind was Big Chief. Of course we wanted to ski the north face - which is everyone's objective when heading back there - but knowing coverage was pretty thin we all kept open minds and knew we had options should the route not go. ( Read more... )

10 hours before the party and 24 hours before the doctor, Todd and I were walking up a valley with skis and boots strapped to our backs. We walked 5 miles before we transitioned to skis and even then we only got to ski at most 2 miles before transitioning back to boots. We were at the top of the run around noon and collapsed in the 70-degree sun. The snow on southern aspects had already gone completely isothermal and Anchorage lay covered in a thick coat of Chinese smog. ( Read more... )

It was the winter of '98 and I had already been in Alaska for two years when I finally decided it was time to learn to ski. I bought skis, boots, bindings - the whole package - and I started the weekend pilgrimage to Turnagain Pass. 15+ years ago the Pass was a different place. There were all of 30 skiers who frequented the place and everyone knew everyone. I started showing up and within a few weeks the long time cadre of local skiers took me under their collective wings. ( Read more... )

A few seconds later he rolled out of view and I slid into the couloir so I could spot; not 2 seconds later I heard the deep whumpf of collapsing snow. Instantly alert, I looked down to see a powder cloud shooting out into the valley... ( Read more... )

Every now and then we get that long period of high pressure where everything rocks. The temps are decent, the snow is beautiful, stability is good. Then the winds come and everything goes to hell. Windslab creeps across the ridgetops and where there isn't windslab there's pure ice. Runs look good from afar but once you're in them you start actually thinking about things like home projects and ice climbing.